Adjustable feed block and check unit assemblies



Oct. 21, 1969 B. w. BUTLER 3,4735715 ADJUSTABLE FEED BLOGK'AND CHECK UNIT ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 24, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 15m/cf M 5u n ff? ATTORNEY B. w. BUTLER 3,473,716

ADJUSTABLE FEED BLOCKAND CHECK UNIT ASSEMBLIES Oct. 21, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 24, 1967 lNvENToR. 3R-UCE W. Dun Eff TTORNEY n llllll .wlxlllnliq llllll llllllls.. \|..lllll.|l llllllllll ||||1ll|ll|| ADJUSTABLE FEED BLOCK-AND CHECK UNIT xssEMBLIEs Filed Nov. 24. 1967 B. W. BUTLER 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

[IHRE INVENTOR. fwcf M unm ATTORNEY United States Patent O M' 3,473,716 ADIUSTABILE FEED BLOCK AND CHECK UNIT ASSEtvIBnIES Bruce W. Entier, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The A. H. Nilsen Machine Company, Shelton, Conn. Filed Nov. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 685,7'02 Int. El. BSh 17/26, 17/36 US. Cl. 226--142 Claims F THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF rft-IE INVENTION Conventional stock feed devices incorporated on forming machines designed to form elongated strip or wire stock, such as fourslide machines, normally include two cooperating clamping devices, performing functions similar to those of two human hands in moving the elongated stoel; intermittently, in predetermined increments, toward the forming station of the machine.

These two cooperating units are normally called a reciprocating feedblock and a stationary check unit. The check unit clamps the elongated stock in a stationary position while the reciprocating feedblock moves upstream in an unclamped condition to take a new grip on the elongated stock. As the feedblock clamps the elongated stoclz, the check unit unclamps and forward reciprocating movement of the feedblock delivers a predetermined length of the material through the unclamped check unit to the forming station of the associated forming machine. At the end of the delivery stroke of the feedblock, the check unit again clamps the elongated stock in its forwardmost position, while the feedblocl; unclamps and again moves upstream to repeat the cycle. The feedblock and the check unit are conventionally actuated by cam follower mechanisms, by air cylinders or by hydraulic cylinders, and the alternate clamping and unA clamping motion of these devices is commonly synchronized by a common drive linkage.

These heavy duty feed-check assemblies of prior, conventional machines are ruggedly constructed, and they perform well within the conventional limitations imposed on them by their rugged construction. Such conventional feed-check assemblies fail to provide adjustment in length of feed block stroke, or in the position of the reciprocating feedblock relative to the check unit, and they are not capable of longitudinal repositioning toward and away from the forming station of the associated stockforming machine,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO1\I The stock assemblies of the present invention incorporate unique flexibility in stroke length and position of feedblocks, and in longitudinal adjustability of the overall feed-check assembly toward and away from the forming station of the associated stock-forming machine. This flexible adjustment capability is achieved by mounting the reciprocating feedblock and the clamping check unit on a 3,473,716 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 common frame which is itself adjustably anchored to the bed of the associated stock-forming machine, and both the feedblock and the check unit are actuated by the camshaft drive mechanism of this associated stock-forming machine.

The devices of this invention aiord variable stroke length for the reciprocating feedblock, and adjustable positioning of the feedblock stroke position toward and away from the check unit, without interfering with the eficient driving connection of the feedblock and check units with the camshaft drive system of the associated stock-forming machine on which the feed assembly is mounted.

Accordingly a principal object of the present invention is to provide enlongated stock feed-check assemblies incorporating reciprocating feedblocks and stationary check units mounted on a common frame adjustably anchored to the body of an associated stock-forming machine, and actuated by the drive system of the associated stockforming machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide such feed check assemblies capable of adjustable longitudinal positioning in a variety of different xed positions on the body of the associated stock-forming machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such feed assemblies providing variable length of stroke of the reciprocating feedblock unit, thereby providing a selectable increment of feed length for the longitudinal elongated stock material delivered by the feed unit to the associated stock forming machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide such feed assemblies incorporating adjustable positioning of the feedblock relative to the check unit, thus permitting the terminal position of the feedblock to be closely adjacent to the check unit, to minimize buckling or exure of the elongated stock delivered by the device.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings.

THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l is a side elevation view of a feed assembly incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, partially cut away to show the position and operation of its moving parts.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the feed assembly shown in FIGURE l, enlarged to illustrate more clearly the cooperation of the various sub-assemblies of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional end elevation view of the feed assembly shown in FIGURES l and 2, taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a further-enlarged fragmentary top plan cross-sectional view of the feedback actuating sub-assembly, taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional top plan view, further enlarged, of the stroke-adjustment connecting rod and actuating mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 6 is a greatly-enlarged fragmentary end elevation view of the delivery end of the feed assembly shown in the previous figures, illustrating the unitary actuating mechanism for the movable parts of this assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE l, a feed assembly 10 incorporates a. reciprocating feedblock 11 cooperating with a check unit 12. Assembly 10 is anchored directly on the bed of a stock form- 3 ing fourslide machine 13, shown at the right hand side of FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 6, the moving parts of the feed assembly of the present invention are all mounted on a frame 14 adjustably anchored on the upper surface of the bed of the fourslide machine 13.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a stock straightener 16 is mounted in aligned position upstream from the bed of the stock-forming machine 13, facing a nearby stock supply reel or cradle not shown in the drawings. The straightener 16 is aligned with the feedblock 11 and the check unit 12 along a wire line or stock feed path along which elongated metal strip stock 17 is delivered by the feed assembly 10 of this invention toward the forming station on the stock-forming machine 13, as shown in the figures. Protruding upstream cantilever fashion-on the upper side of the frame 14, is a feedblock support arm 18 incorporating a feed slideway 19 comprising laterally extending bevelled flanges forming a dovetailed slide cooperating with the feedblock.

As indicated in FIGURE 3, the feed slideway 19 comprises a pair of outwardly tapered lower anges formed on the feedblock support arm 1S engaging a tapered slot formed in the upper surface of the feedblock 11 to form a dovetail slideway assembly, guiding the feedblock 11 in forward and rearward reciprocating motion toward and away from the stock-forming station on the machine 13,

l shown at the right of the feed assembly 10 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The straightener 16 and associated stock treatment units such as the wiper 21 are preferably supported on an upwardly extending straightener bracket 22 projecting in an upstream direction from the base 23 of the stock forming machine 13, as shown in FIGURE l.

ADJUSTABLE FEEDBLOCK STROKE A reciprocating pivotal drive lever 24 is secured to the lower portion of the straightener bracket 22 on a pivot shaft 25, permitting lever 24 to move in reciprocating pivoting movement about the axis 26 of the pivot shaft 24. The axis 26 is preferably perpendicular to the path of advance of the stock 17 delivered by the feed mechanismv of the invention, and the reciprocating pivotal movement of lever 24 thus occurs in a plane of movement substantially parallel to this stock advance path. A lengthadjustable connecting rod 27 is pivotally joined by a pivot shaft 29 having `a pivoting axis 29A to the rocking lever 24 near its midpoint, and the opposite end of the connecting rod 27 is joined by an eccentric T-slot clamp assembly 28 shown in FIGURE 5 to a driving gear 30 rotatably mounted on the body of the stock forming machine 13. Rotation of the driving gear 30 produces reciprocating movement of the connecting rod 27, causing the drive lever 24 to move in reciprocating pivotal motion about the pivot axis 26 passing through its lower end. The upper end of lever 24 is pivotally joined to an articulating link 31 Whose opposite end is pivotally connected to feedblock 11, as shown in FIGURE 1. Rotation of driving gear 30 is translated by this linkage into reciprocating, sliding movement of feedblock 11 between its rear-most and its forwardmost positions on the slideway 19 of the feedblock support arm 18.

As shown in FIGURE l, connecting rod 27 is provided with a threaded, turnbuckle-type stud 32 having a central nut portion which is polygonal and preferably hexagonal in cross-section to accommodate a wrench; the opposite ends of stud 32 are provided with threads of opposite pitch. The stud member 32 thus has a lever end threadedly engaged in a threaded aperture formed in a lever block 33 pivotally joined by the pivot pin 28 to lever 23, and the stud 32 is provided with an opposite driven end in threaded engagement with a suitably threaded aperture in a driven block 34 pivotally joined by the T-slot clamp assembly 28 of FIGURE 5 to the driving gear 30.

By this means the length-adjustable connecting rod 27 may be shortened or lengthened by turning the oppositelv threaded stud 32 with wrench torque applied to `its polygonal central nut portion, changing the position or axis 29 relative to the axis of driven gear 30. In this manner the position of the feedblock on its slideway t9 may be moved forward toward the stock-forming station at the right hand end of FIGURE l, or rearward, away from the stock forming station.

FEEDBLOCK STROKE ADJUSTMENT The length of stroke of the reciprocating feedblock ll may be adjusted over a wide range of possible values oy unclampiug and reclamping of the T-slot clamping assembly 28 shown in FIGURE 5. In this assembly, a drive disk 35 is concentrically anchored on a shaft 36 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the base of stock-forming machine 13, and keyed in torque-transmitting engagement with driven gear 30 on shaft 36, all as shown in FIGURE 5. A radial T-slot 37 is formed extending from the center of disk 35 outward toward its periphery and T-slot 57 comprises a wide base portion 38 surmounted by overhanging anchoring anges 39.

A T-bolt 41, having an enlarged head 42 engaged Within the wide base portion 38 of T-slot 37, is also provided with a shank portion 43, extending outwardly between the anchoring anges 39 in a direction parallel to the axis of shaft 36. The shank 43 of the T-bolt 41 forms a pivoting connection with the driven block 34 of connecting rod 27; shank 43 passes through a suitable bearing aperture formed in block 34, and is held in pla by an anchoring nut 44, all as shown in FIGURE 5.

The radial distance by which the axis of T-bolt 41 1s spaced outwardly from the central axis of the disk 36, gear 30 and shaft 36 thus constitutes the crank arm by which the rotary driving motion of driven gear 30 is imparted to the driven block 34 of connecting rod 27, and disk 36 thus serves as an infinitely adjustable crank member for the connecting rod 27. Adjustment of the assembly 28 on disk 36 shown in FIGURE 5 thus changes the angular sector through which lever 24 reciprocates about axis 26 under the driving force supplied by rotation of driven gear 30. The angle subtended by lever 24 during its reciprocating movement in turn determines the length of the reciprocating stroke of feedblock 11; a reduced angular sector of pivotal movement of lever 24 produces a correspondingly reduced length of stroke for feedblock 11, and an enlarged angular sector produces a correspondingly lengthened stroke for feedblock 11. To facilitate adjustment, a calibration scale may be inscribed on disk 35 near T -slot 37 if desired.

When the exact length of stroke preferred has been selected and set by adjustment of the assembly 28 in l"- slot 37 of disk 35, the position of feedblock 11 in its forward terminal delivery position, closest to the check unit 12, may then be selected by turning of the oppositely threaded stud 32 in the direction required to shorten connecting rod 27, drawing lever 23 toward driving gear 30 until feedblock 11 reaches this desired, predetermined terminal delivery position. 'I'his position is normally selected to be close as possible to check unit 12, in order to minimize buckling of the at strip stock 17 between the feedblock 11 and the check unit 12.

CLAMPING ACTUATION OF FEEDBLOCK AND CHECK UNIT Positive, cam follower actuation of the alternative clamping modes of the feedblock 11 and the check unit 12 is provided by the cam mechanism shown at the righthand side of FIGURES 1 and 2, `and in the greatly enlarged end elevation view of FIGURE 6. In these drawings the feed assembly is shown at the beginning of its feed stroke, with the feedblock in its clamping position, and with the check unit unclamped.

The check unit 12 incorporates a check rod 46 mounted for sliding movement toward and away from stock 17,1

which travels between the end of check rod 46 and a rear anvil plate 5t). The check rod 46 is slidably mounted in two bushing apertures for axial longitudinal movement, a rear aperture 47 formed in the feed assembly frame 14 closely juxtaposed to the path of travel of the strip stock 17, and a front aperture 48 coaxially aligned and formed in a forward projection 49 extending from frame 14 near a front camshaft 51. Camshaft 51 is rotatably supported in suitable bearing mounts 52 formed on the base of the stock forming machine 13.

A pinned ring forms central radial ange 53 extending outwardly from a central point on check rod 46, and a heavy compression coil spring 54 surrounds check rod 46 and is held in a coaxial compressed condition between flange 53 and a forwardly facing rear surface 56 formed on frame 14 at the forward end of the rear aperture 47. Coil spring 54 thus serves to urge check rod 46 toward a retracted or unclamped position in which it is out of engagement with strip stock 17. The forward end of check rod 46 protrudes through front aperture 48 toward front camshaft 51.

A check unit clamping cam 57 is secured to front camshaft 51 by such means as a set screw 58. A follower arm 59 pivotally mounted on frame 14 of the feed assembly for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis 61 is provided with a follower roller 62 engaged with the periphery of check unit clamping cam 57, and an adjustable threaded clamping stud 63 provided with a lock nut 64 is engaged in a suitable threaded aperture formed in the follower arm 59, extending through toward the forwardly protruding end of check rod 46. The facing ends of clamping stud 63 and check rod 46 are preferably convexly ground for abutting engagement, as shown in FIGURE 6, and the compression coil spring 54 urging check rod 46 forwardly away from strip stock 17 urges check rod 46 against the facing end of clamping stud 63 with sufficient force to urge follower roller 62 into firm driving engagement with the periphery of check unit clamping cam 57.

The cam 57 is preferably formed as a split cam, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, permitting independent selection and adjustment of the rise and fall points bounding the clamping dwell or maximum radius sector of the clamping cam, initiating and terminating rearward pivoting of follower arm 59 and the resulting sliding movement of check rod 46 in its apertures 47 and 48, into and out of clamping engagement with strip stock 17. In this manner the length of time and the times of beginning and ending of check unit clamping during the operating cycle of the machine may be selected, adjusted and changed as desired with optimum precision.

FEEDBLOCK CLAMPING ACTUATION The clamping mode of the feedblock 11, alternating with the clamping mode of the check unit 12, is actuated by the additional cam and follower linkage also illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 6.

The feedblock 11, as shown in the cross-sectional plan view of FIGURE 4, is provided with a central recess in which is mounted a pivoted clamping block 66, mounted for angular pivotal movement about a substantially vertical pivoting axis 67. A clamping pin 68 is adjustably mounted in a suitable aperture formed in the pivoted clamping block 66 and extends therefrom toward the strip stock 17. An anvil block 69, extending rearwardly behind the strip stock 17 is also secured to the feedblock 11. Clamping pin 68 and anvil block 69 are aligned to grip strip stock 7 between themselves in clamping engagement when the pivoted clamping block 66 is moved angularly about its pivot axis 67 toward anvil 69 to the clamping position shown in FIGURE 4.

A clamping lever 71 is pivotally mounted in feedback 11 for angular pivoting movement about a second pivoting axis 72 between the clamped position shown in FIG- URE 4, in which the longitudinal axis of clamping lever 71 forms an acute angle with the forward feed direction of strip stock 17, to a disengaged unclamping position in which the clamping lever 71 is rotated counter-clockwise to a position in which its longitudinal axis forms a larger arcuate angle therewith. As shown in FIGURE 4, a clamping rise 73 is formed on the periphery of clamping lever 71, forming a cam surface thereon facing the pivoted clamping block 66, and a follower roller 74 recessed and rotatably mounted in pivoting clamping block 66 is positioned for rolling engagement with the clamping rise 73.

As shown in FIGURE 4, a compression follower spring 76 is clamped in compressed condition between feedblock 11 and pivoting clamping block 66, providing resilient biasing force acting along a line passing through the axis of roller 74 and its point of tangent contact with clamping rise 73 on the clamping lever 71, and thus biasing the clamping block 66 into firm engagement with clamping lever 71.

Clamping pin 68 may be moved and repositioned within its aperture in clamping block 66 by means of an adjustable back-up screw 77 threadedly engaged in a suitable threaded aperture formed in block 66 in substantially coaxial alignment with pin 68, and threaded advance of back-up screw 77 drives pin 68 toward strip stock 17 and anvil block 69. Anchoring means such as set screws 78 are preferably mounted in clamping block 66 to provide a radial anchoring grip, locking clamping pin 68 in block 66. These adjustable screws 77 and 78 thus provide ample adjustability of clamping pin 68 to accommodate strip stocks 17 of different thicknesses, and they compensate for any play in the clamping mechanism.

Clamping lever 71 is actuated by a parallelogram parallel clamping bar assembly shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. Clamping bar 79 is positioned parallel to slideway 19 formed on the feedblock support arm 18. The opposite ends of clamping bar 79 are pivotally secured to pivotal links 81 and S2, respectively pivotally mounted on the underside of support arm 18 for angular pivoting movement about their respective pivoting axes 83 and 84, which are parallel lines lying in a plane which is itself parallel to the line of advance of strip stock 17 and to the pivoting axis 72 of clamping lever 71. As shown in FIGURE 2, links 81 and 82 normally extend from their axes 83 and 84 in a parallel direction angularly diverging from the strip stock 17, and their opposite ends are pivotally secured to the respective ends of clamping bar 79 at parallel pivoting axes 86 and 87. Axes 83, 84, 87 and 86 form a parallelogram in which sides 83-84 and 86-87 are equal in length, and in which sides 83-86 and 84-87 are also equal in length.

Link 82 is formed in the shape of a bell crank with a crank lever 88 extending lbeyond axis 84 toward check unit 12. A connecting rod 89, configured to be adjustable in length in the manner of connecting rod 32 shown in FIGURE 1, is pivotally joined to crank level 88 on a pivoting axis 91 parallel to axis 84. The opposite end of connecting rod 89 is pivotally secured on a pivot axis 92 to the shorter arm 93A of a bell crank 93 whose longer arm 93B extends forwardly toward front camshaft 51 and is provided with a follower roller 94 drivingly engaged with an internal feedblock clamping cam 96 thereon, preferably formed as an internal cam, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6. In the preferred embodiment shown in the gures, the bell crank 93 is formed with its central portion offset in the form of a shaft 93C journalled in simple bearing apertures formed in frame 14 of the feed assembly, and the axis of shaft portion 93C is parallel to the axis of front camshaft 51.

As shown in FIGURE 6, radial movement of the longer arm 93B of bell crank 93 in a direction toward the front camshaft 51 is caused by the rolling engagement of follower roller 94 with the internal track on cam 96 along the fall and minimum radius dwell portion thereof. As viewed in FIGURE 6, counter-clockwise rotation of bell crank 93 about the axis of its shaft portion 93C draws connecting rod 89 forwardly away from strip stock 17, producing '7 clockwise rotation of the link 82 about its pivot axis 84 as viewed in FIGURE 2.

The parallelogram mounting of clamping bars 79 produces parallel translatory movement of bar 79 toward strip stock 17 as a result of this actuation of the clamping cam follower linkage.

A longitudinal groove 97 is formed in clamping bar 79, and a feedblock clamping pin 98 extending from the end of clamping lever 71 is positioned and dimensioned for sliding engagement in groove 97 throughout the path of travel of advancing and retracting movement of feedblock 11 toward and away from the stock-forming station on the stock-forming machine 13.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the left end of front camshaft 51 is drivingly connected to a left end camshaft 99 by a pair of bevel gears 101. A drive gear 102 anchored on left end camshaft 99 is drivingly engaged with the driving gear 30 keyed on short stud shaft 36, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, producing the driving actuation of feedblock 11 by means of connecting rod 27 and drive lever 24.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power driven stock-forming machine for longitudinally elongated stock having a base surmounted by a bed incorporating a stock feed path along which stockforming operations are performed, a stock feed-check assembly interposed between a stock supply and an initial stock-forming station, comprising (A) a frame adjustably and disengageably anchored to the bed by longitudinally variable anchoring means,

(B) a clamping check unit positioned on the frame embracing the stock feed path near the initial stockforming station,

(C) a clamping feedblock slidingly mounted on the frame for reciprocating movement along the stock feed path,

(D) feedblock drive means actuated by the power driven stock-forming machine and connected to produce forward and backward cycling movement of the feedblock along the stock feed path,

(E) and clamping actuation means actuated by the power-driven stock-forming machine and connected to place the feedblock in a clamped condition and the check unit in an unclamped condition during forward movement of the feedblock, while reversing these respective conditions during backward movement of the feedblock.

2. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim l. wherein the feedblock drive means incorporates stroke length adjustment means.

3. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim .1. wherein the feedblock drive means incorporates stroke positioning means connected to move the reciprocating path of feedback stroke along the stock feed path, toward and away from the check unit.

4. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim j, wherein the feedblock drive means also incorporates stroke length adjustment means, whereby the terminal delivery end of the feedblock stroke is positionable closely adjacent to the check unit for selected different lengths or feedblock stroke.

5. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim t wherein the frame is provided with anchor bolts disengageably locked by T-nuts in longitudinal T-slots formed in the bed of the stock-forming machine.

6. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim .Z wherein the feedblock stroke length adjustment means includes a Variable-length crank.

7. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim n wherein the feedblock stroke length adjustment means includes a rotatably mounted drive disk torque driven by the power driven stock-forming machine and incorporating radially elongated track means, in combination with a connecting rod having a first end disengageably anchorable at selected positions along the elongated track means, and having a second end drivingly connected to feedblock-reciprocating linkage means.

8. The stock feed-check assembly defined in claim 5 wherein the stroke positioning means includes an oscillating connecting rod incorporating adjustment means for varying its overall length, having a first end drivingly connected to the power driven stock forming machine. and a second end drivingly connected to feedblock-reciprocating linkage means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,626,451 l/l953 Gridley 226-141 K 2,728,572 12/1955 Clark 226-141 ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,473,716 Dated Oct. 2l, 19t

Bruce W. Butler, Bridgeport, Conn. assignor to The A. H. Nilson Machine Company, Shelton, Connecticut It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column l, line 70, after "mounting", add both- 2, 56, change "feedback" to feedblock 3, 28, change "at" to read to 5, 67, change "7" to --l7 5, 7l, change "feedback" to -feedblock 6, 54, change "level" to "lever-- SIGNED AN'D SEALED JUN 1 6.1970

(SEAL Attest:

EdwardMFletcherJr. Amazing officer mmm l; m.

connaissions:- of Patents 

